Critter: Black-tailed prairie dog
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Name: Black-tailed prairie dog, aka Cynomys ludovicianus
Appearance: 15 inches tall with a light brown or cream body. The rear third of the short tail is totally totally black.
Life and death: Life span is about 8 years. Females have 3-5 babies at a time. They are preyed upon by rattlesnakes, coyotes, bobcats, birds of prey and weasels.
Neighborhood of choice: Prairie dogs live in towns burrowed underground in open, brushless areas. They prefer an uninterrupted view of their surroundings as they emerge from the burrow. In the past, towns have been miles long and housed millions of prairie dogs. Numbers are dwindling now.
Preferred menu: Grasses, leaves, roots, seeds and other plants, and occasionally small rodents and birds' eggs.
Fascinating facts: Many ranchers ranchers dislike prairie dogs because they compete with livestock for range grass and their burrows are a hazard for wandering horses and cattle.
Source: "Guide to Western Wildlife" by Buddy Mays (Chronicle Books, San Francisco) and The Arizona-Sonora Arizona-Sonora Arizona-Sonora Desert
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